Improvement in hinges



2 Sheets--Sheet1. JAM ES K. OTIS.

Improvement in Hinges.

No, 126,571. Patented May 7,1872.

RM- FNNU III'HDERAPHIC CG. IV. Y (OSEURNE'S PROCESS-i 2 Sheets--Sheet 2JAM ES K. OTIS.

Improvement in Hinges.

Patented May 7,1872.

AM. PHOTO'IIYHOGRIFHIG 00. M I OSBORNE'S FPOCESSJ UNITED STATES PATENTOEEIoE.

JAMES K. OTIS, OF EAST CAMBRIDGE, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND FRED- ERICK W.NICHOLS, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HINGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 126,571, dated May 7,1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES K. OTIS, of East Cambridge, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a Self- SupportingSliding Hinge, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making partof this specification, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved hinge applied to the under side of a table, and to an auxiliaryleaf, the hinge be ing slid back into a position for supporting the leafwhen the table is to be extended, and the parts being inverted to betterrepresent the application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective viewrepresenting the hinge drawn out and the leaf swung down, the partsbeing also inverted. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the centerof Fig. 1.

To furnish a simple arrangement by which the surface of a table, desk,or sewing-machine may be readily extended and thrown down when notrequired for use, and also to provide a means for supporting a temporaryshelf projecting from a wall or side of a room, or auxiliary leafapplied to a chair or settee, &c., is the object of my invention, whichconsists in a hinge formed of two leaves or portions pivoted together,and sliding within a stationary guide secured to the under side of thearticle of furniture or fixture, &c., to be extended,

the outer portion of the hinge being secured to the auxiliary leafintended to form the extension of the article.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention Iwill proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawing A is intended to represent a portion of the top of atable, desk, or sewing-machine; and B a portion of an auxiliary leaf,which it is designed to employ when the former requires to be extended.U is a hinge, the two leaves or portions a b of which are pivotedtogether at c, and slide within a parallel guide, D, secured by screws dto the under side of the top of the table or other article A to beextended. The outer portion of the leaf 1) of the hinge is screwed at eto the under side of the auxiliary leaf B, and

the outer end of the leaf a of the hinge is enlarged to form stops f toprevent the hinge from sliding out of the guide when the auxiliary leafB is drawn forward. When the parts are in the position seen in Fig. 2,and it is desired to increase the surface of the top of the table, theauxiliary leaf is brought up till its surface is in the same horizontalplane therewith, when the leaf B is pressed close up against the edge ofthe table A, the portion b of the hinge being at the same time slid intothe guide D, which prevents it from swinging down on its pivot or joint0, and the auxiliary leaf B is thus firmly supported in place to form anextension of the table A, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3. a

When the auxiliary leaf is not required for use it is drawn out untilthe stops f strike against the end of the guide D, which movement drawsthe inner end of the portion b and the joint 0 out of the guide when theleaf B will fall by its own weight into the original position, seen inFig. 2. When in this position the leaf may be carried under the table bysliding the portion a of the hinge within the guide D, and, by slidingthis portion entirely out of the guide, the leaf B may be readilydetached.

It is evident that my improved hinge may be employed for connecting anauxiliary leaf to other articles of furniture than those above referredto, such as chairs, settees, 850., and also for supporting a shelf fromthe side or wall of a room for temporary us Claim.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The within-described sliding self-supporting hinge, consisting of theportion a, with its stop f, pivoted to the portion 12, in combinationwith a stationary guide, D, constructed and operating substantially inthe manner and for the purpose set forth.

Witness my hand this 20th day of March, 1872.

JAS. K. OTIS.

In presence of- N. W. STEARNS, W. J. CAMBRIDGE.

